French word

couteau

Pronunciation

IPA/kuto/

Meaning

  • masculine nounknife

Example

Où est le couteau ?

Where is the knife?

Illustration for couteau (knife)

More examples

Attention, ce couteau est très coupant.

Careful, this knife is very sharp.

Core concept

A sharp blade joined to a handle, used to cut, slice, or pierce food and other objects.

Common phrases

  • un couteau de cuisine

    kitchen knife

  • un couteau à pain

    bread knife

  • un couteau de poche

    pocketknife

Similar words

fourchette: A pronged utensil for piercing and picking up food.
cuillère: A bowl-shaped utensil for scooping liquids or small pieces of food.
couteau de table: A small knife used at the table for cutting food.
couteau de cuisine: A large knife used in cooking to cut ingredients.

Definition in French

Instrument composé d'une lame et d'un manche, utilisé pour couper, trancher ou piquer des objets et des aliments.

Word origin

French couteau descends through Old French coutel from Latin cultellus, a diminutive formed from culter, meaning a knife or blade.

Usage tips

  • Couteau is masculine, so its usual articles are un couteau and le couteau.

Other meanings

  • kitchen knifenoun
  • bladenoun

Related words

Word lists with this word